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DCI Tom Douglas #12
Whatever It Takes
No rules. No choice. No turning back.
He played by the rules – until the only rule that mattered was survival.
Recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly cost him his life, DCI Tom Douglas isn’t focused on himself – his concern is for his brother Jack, who seems to have vanished without a trace. Jack’s past is as dangerous as it is complicated. Years ago, he faked his own death to escape an organised crime group, and ever since, he’s been living in the shadows, always one step ahead of those who want to hunt him down.
Now, Tom’s worst fears are coming true. Has Jack’s past finally caught up with him? And what does that mean for his family? Tom has to find them, but the answers he seeks are hidden in a brutal underworld - one more threatening than anything Tom has faced before.
With time running out and his own life on the line, Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go and how much he’s prepared to sacrifice, knowing it will mean crossing a line he swore he never would.
But there is another player in this game – one who will stop at nothing to find the answers she seeks. And if Tom makes the wrong move, he, and everyone he loves, will lose.
He’s spent his life chasing criminals. But to save his family, he might have to become one.
A DCI Tom Douglas Thriller
He played by the rules – until the only rule that mattered was survival.
Recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly cost him his life, DCI Tom Douglas isn’t focused on himself – his concern is for his brother Jack, who seems to have vanished without a trace. Jack’s past is as dangerous as it is complicated. Years ago, he faked his own death to escape an organised crime group, and ever since, he’s been living in the shadows, always one step ahead of those who want to hunt him down.
Now, Tom’s worst fears are coming true. Has Jack’s past finally caught up with him? And what does that mean for his family? Tom has to find them, but the answers he seeks are hidden in a brutal underworld - one more threatening than anything Tom has faced before.
With time running out and his own life on the line, Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go and how much he’s prepared to sacrifice, knowing it will mean crossing a line he swore he never would.
But there is another player in this game – one who will stop at nothing to find the answers she seeks. And if Tom makes the wrong move, he, and everyone he loves, will lose.
He’s spent his life chasing criminals. But to save his family, he might have to become one.
A DCI Tom Douglas Thriller
388 pages, Paperback
Published March 11, 2025
1821 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Abbott
50 books2,689 followersI was born and brought up in the north of England, and worked for many years as the managing director of an interactive media company. I wrote every day - everything from creative proposals to user manuals - but most exciting of all was writing interactive dramas - including for the Cluedo (Clue in the US) interactive games. I was fortunate enough to sell my company in 2000 and we moved to Italy where we bought and restored an old country house.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 24, 2025
Sorry, but I gave up at 66%. That isn't something I make a habit of, But frankly, I was bored out of my mind and didn't care how it ended. I've read every one of Rachel Abbott's books and enjoyed them, but not this one.
April 30, 2025
This is the most difficult review I've ever had to write. I am a huge fan of Rachel Abbott's Tom Douglas series—I have enjoyed reading every single one of the preceding volumes. To my great dismay, the 2025 model turns out to be a colossal disappointment. Rather than the usual Manchester-based psychological thriller, Abbott instead serves up a novel full of espionage, drug dealers and the Mafia. Thrusting the reader into a convoluted art-heist saga in Venice involving Tom's usually elusive brother Jack, Abbott's 12th book in the series is consumed with themes of surveillance, counterintelligence, phone tracking and other marvels of the high-tech digital universe. If spy novels are your cup of tea, you are welcome to it; I was bored out of my mind. There are innumerable organized-crime heavies chasing after cocaine, and a double-agent "fixer" trying to solve the mystery of her own lover who mysteriously vanished. (Her character fills the role of "first person narrator in alternating chapters," which is consistent with this series.) Abbott spends an eternity focusing on Tom and Jack discussing potential plans about what to do to get the latter's kidnapped family sprung from their captors. In the book, our hero—Tom—finds himself having to commit so many (admittedly victimless) crimes that he becomes the book's antihero. And Jack—usually a bright spot in the series' occasional cameos—falls completely flat competing as a main character. The point of the book is that sometimes you must do "whatever it takes" to pry a loved one out of a jam, but for a book that starts with Tom recovering from a gunshot wound, all I wanted was for him to do his usual great police work, not match wits with people named Renzo, Contarini and Rukavina and being left with a ruined soul because of his transgressions. I doubt I will completely give up on this series—assuming it continues—but man, this was a total slog for me.
March 11, 2025
WOW! Rachel Abbott has done it again. This book should carry a health warning. It will get your heart racing and you will find yourself short of breath! So, be careful.
Tom Douglas is back and it was well worth the wait. Whilst recuperating from his injuries, he is concerned about his brother Jack and his family, they appear to be missing. He sets out to try and track them down and begins a course of action that will lead him outside his comfort zone and 'crossing the Rubicon.'
This is Rachel Abbott at her best. A consummate storyteller with clever, intricate plotting, and heart-racing action and so well constructed. All set against the gorgeous backdrop of Venice and an adversary who will stop at nothing!
If I am honest, I had lost a little of my reading mojo before I started reading Whatever It Takes. However, this book gave me it back in spades and it is not a cliche to say, I couldn't put it down. So a heartfelt thank you to Rachel for a brilliant read! Also, my thanks to Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
Tom Douglas is back and it was well worth the wait. Whilst recuperating from his injuries, he is concerned about his brother Jack and his family, they appear to be missing. He sets out to try and track them down and begins a course of action that will lead him outside his comfort zone and 'crossing the Rubicon.'
This is Rachel Abbott at her best. A consummate storyteller with clever, intricate plotting, and heart-racing action and so well constructed. All set against the gorgeous backdrop of Venice and an adversary who will stop at nothing!
If I am honest, I had lost a little of my reading mojo before I started reading Whatever It Takes. However, this book gave me it back in spades and it is not a cliche to say, I couldn't put it down. So a heartfelt thank you to Rachel for a brilliant read! Also, my thanks to Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
March 5, 2025
So good to have Tom back, AND Jack, double bonus! Love Rachel Abbott’s books, especially the Tom Douglas series and this is no exception. Really enjoyed the plot, fast moving and full of suspense, and especially enjoyed spending time with the main characters. It’s one of those books you just don’t want to put down and then can’t wait to get back to. Highly recommend if you enjoy psychological thrillers.
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
March 16, 2025
Wow the 12th book in this series and the return of some of my favourite people. (this can be read as a standalone).
What an emotional rollercoaster this book is. With all the usual grit and heart of a Rachel Abbott book, I was hooked back in straight away and couldn't put the book down, I just had to know what happened!
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What an emotional rollercoaster this book is. With all the usual grit and heart of a Rachel Abbott book, I was hooked back in straight away and couldn't put the book down, I just had to know what happened!
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Fable || Uncover || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
July 6, 2025
Usually really love Rachel Abbott books especially this Tom Douglas series but I dunno this one was a bit of a plop! Not having much luck with thrillers recently 😄😆 Got quite exciting towards the 70% mark but took a long while to get there… think could’ve been faster / more time spent with the separate hostages…
March 3, 2025
Wow this was like The Da Vinci Code meets Alex Cross!! It’s straight into the action and doesn’t pause for breath until the last page.
It really is Rachel Abbott at her finest, with twists and turns around every corner!
If you are familiar with the Tom Douglas series, this is certainly one not to be missed. I won’t give much away as you need to read it to know what might happen!
It’s interesting to see Tom in a slightly different role here, see his vulnerabilities and hear him question his values and morals.
All in all a fantastic, fast paced story which you won’t want to put down!
It really is Rachel Abbott at her finest, with twists and turns around every corner!
If you are familiar with the Tom Douglas series, this is certainly one not to be missed. I won’t give much away as you need to read it to know what might happen!
It’s interesting to see Tom in a slightly different role here, see his vulnerabilities and hear him question his values and morals.
All in all a fantastic, fast paced story which you won’t want to put down!
July 12, 2025
DNF at 68%. Awful. Will pretend it’s not part of the Tom Douglas series.
March 23, 2025
Another great story, featuring Tom Douglas
The last book finished with Tom getting shit, this book continues shortly after, as he’s recovering from his injuries. Toms brother Jack has been in hiding since faking his own death any years ago. Only a few people are aware that Jack is still alive and living with his family and adopte daughter, Ava, Ava has appeared in 2 of the previous books featuring Tom, Ava, originally Natasha, was kidnapped as a young g child and years later managed to escape. She was rescued by Tom and his team and has been in hiding with Jack and his family since.
In this book, Tom hasn’t heard from Jack for a while, and just before he was shot, it seemed someone had leaked that Jack may still be alive. Has something happened to him?
Tom, is off work, while recuperating and decides to investigate his brother’s possible disappearance. This is t an easy job as Jack is living under a false name and being a computer whizz is able to cover his tracks.
Jack manages to locate the house Jack and his family have been leaving at and by following a series of clues, which he believes have been left by Jack decides to travel to Venice.
Will Tom do Whatever it takes to Save his family?
I loved this book, the way it flowed. Toms battle with his ethics and what needed to be done to make sure his family stay safe.
The last book finished with Tom getting shit, this book continues shortly after, as he’s recovering from his injuries. Toms brother Jack has been in hiding since faking his own death any years ago. Only a few people are aware that Jack is still alive and living with his family and adopte daughter, Ava, Ava has appeared in 2 of the previous books featuring Tom, Ava, originally Natasha, was kidnapped as a young g child and years later managed to escape. She was rescued by Tom and his team and has been in hiding with Jack and his family since.
In this book, Tom hasn’t heard from Jack for a while, and just before he was shot, it seemed someone had leaked that Jack may still be alive. Has something happened to him?
Tom, is off work, while recuperating and decides to investigate his brother’s possible disappearance. This is t an easy job as Jack is living under a false name and being a computer whizz is able to cover his tracks.
Jack manages to locate the house Jack and his family have been leaving at and by following a series of clues, which he believes have been left by Jack decides to travel to Venice.
Will Tom do Whatever it takes to Save his family?
I loved this book, the way it flowed. Toms battle with his ethics and what needed to be done to make sure his family stay safe.
July 25, 2025
Another tense thriller from Rachel Abbott. How she keeps up the tension I don’t know but I always feel invested in the character and their story and generally read these quickly as I need to find out what will happen! This one is set in Venice and is about Tom and his brother Jack and how they have to fight off kidnapping and theft all in a short space of time.
June 1, 2025
An end of an era book! Been following the story of Tom for so many years I'm glad the character is given an epic final thriller. Unfortunately the story is over complicated and at the same time simplifies things to a point that it's so unrealistic it pulls you out of the story.
March 22, 2025
Another brilliant book by Rachel Abbott
September 15, 2025
slow to start but once it picked up it was good.
March 11, 2025
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
My goodness! What an exhilarating ride this new book from Rachel Abbott is. It grips you from the first paragraph and has so many clever twists and turns to keep you reading late into the night. Set mainly in Venice and the way it’s written, you feel that you could be there with Tom at every heart-stopping event. The pace is kept to a high level in every chapter, and the ending does not disappoint. I’ve loved every book from this brilliant author, so if you haven’t read any of her other books, I would urge you to start now. They all deserve to be made into a TV mini-series or transferred to the big screen.
My goodness! What an exhilarating ride this new book from Rachel Abbott is. It grips you from the first paragraph and has so many clever twists and turns to keep you reading late into the night. Set mainly in Venice and the way it’s written, you feel that you could be there with Tom at every heart-stopping event. The pace is kept to a high level in every chapter, and the ending does not disappoint. I’ve loved every book from this brilliant author, so if you haven’t read any of her other books, I would urge you to start now. They all deserve to be made into a TV mini-series or transferred to the big screen.
March 18, 2025
I love Rachel Abbott’s books, and the Tom Douglas series is a definite favourite. This was gripping and definitely fast paced, you certainly need to read with no interruptions! Wasn’t my favourite book of the series but 4 stars is still very good in my view. Will be interested to see where the series goes next.
March 9, 2025
Absolutely Stunning.
Clear your day and turn off your phone as you won't be able to put this down. A very welcome return for Tom Douglas; a fast paced modern escapade with Rachel Abbott at her very best.
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
Clear your day and turn off your phone as you won't be able to put this down. A very welcome return for Tom Douglas; a fast paced modern escapade with Rachel Abbott at her very best.
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
April 29, 2025
I really hope this isn't the end for Tom and Jack. This has been an absolutely enthralling series. This last book was just nailbitingly good. I'm so invested in these people now and I don't want the series to end. Although, with no spoilers, there is a bit of a surprise at the end, hopefully Rachel Abbott will take this series in a new direction... (?) I certainly hope so anyway. I give the series overall 5 stars, I think I gave a couple of the books 4 stars but the majority were easily 5 star reads for me. What do I read now? I'm in that lost, bereft stage after a roller coaster of a series, I need to find something exceptional!
March 11, 2025
Tom is back!
Tom hasn't heard from his brother Jack for a long time, and he is worried. He would normally leave little clues that only Tom would pick up on to know he was ok.
As Tom is on sick leave, he decides to track Jack down. First, he heads to where the family are living, but there is no sign of Jack or the rest of the family, and it looks like no one has lived there for quite some time.
So where are they?
Tom finds himself on a plane heading to Venice, where he finds himself doing things that go totally against what Tom stands for. Pushing boundaries to their very limit and beyond.
Just brilliant. I absolutely devoured this.
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
Tom hasn't heard from his brother Jack for a long time, and he is worried. He would normally leave little clues that only Tom would pick up on to know he was ok.
As Tom is on sick leave, he decides to track Jack down. First, he heads to where the family are living, but there is no sign of Jack or the rest of the family, and it looks like no one has lived there for quite some time.
So where are they?
Tom finds himself on a plane heading to Venice, where he finds himself doing things that go totally against what Tom stands for. Pushing boundaries to their very limit and beyond.
Just brilliant. I absolutely devoured this.
I would like to thank Black Dot Publishing for sending me an advance copy of this book.
June 6, 2025
Wasn’t a fan of this compared to the other books. I like that were straight into the action in her stories but this one was a tad boring. I’d also forgotten a lot of the back story of Ava and Jack so got a bit lost at times.
Starts where the last one ended when Tom is recovering from being shot. He goes to help his brother Jack who in a previous story had faked his death. His adopted daughter Ava has been kidnapped by Italian mafia. Tom and Jack are in Venice trying to rescue her and there’s some dull mafia story that isn’t connected (as far as I can tell) to any of Jacks past. They steal a painting, think that one of the girl gang bosses is trying to double cross them (but she doesn’t) they rescue Ava and all is well.
There were a couple of good tension driven chapters towards the end when Tom is stealing the painting and the face off with Tia but otherwise I felt this was a slog to get through. Not the usual crime drama I’m used to from these stories.
Starts where the last one ended when Tom is recovering from being shot. He goes to help his brother Jack who in a previous story had faked his death. His adopted daughter Ava has been kidnapped by Italian mafia. Tom and Jack are in Venice trying to rescue her and there’s some dull mafia story that isn’t connected (as far as I can tell) to any of Jacks past. They steal a painting, think that one of the girl gang bosses is trying to double cross them (but she doesn’t) they rescue Ava and all is well.
There were a couple of good tension driven chapters towards the end when Tom is stealing the painting and the face off with Tia but otherwise I felt this was a slog to get through. Not the usual crime drama I’m used to from these stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
looks like this is the last book in this series.
September 11, 2025
I love Rachel Abbotts books and this latest Tom Douglas thriller. This time he is on the hunt for his brother who seems to have gone missing again. The only issue is Jack is presumed dead and Tom doesn’t have a way to contact him but he always finds a way to get in touch with Tom and let him know he’s ok. As Tom follows the breadcrumbs left behind he starts to worry his brother’s whole family may be in more danger than he has ever been in before can he find him and get to the bottom of what is going on and will he be able to help save everyone. This is a dark thriller with great characters and a family that you warm to with every book. I couldn’t put this down! It’s an edge of the seat read that’s not to be missed.
April 29, 2025
Unfortunately I struggled with this one ! Have really enjoyed all the others in this series but this one just felt so long and boring. Took me over a week to read and just didn’t enjoy!
June 23, 2025
I loved the first few Tom Douglas books, and still recommend them often, so this was a really big disappointment for me. It was just…. Naff. It lacked all the clever plot of the first books which kept me turning pages, to the point that I struggled to even finish. I think the Jack story line is tired (turns out I don’t really like his character) in the same way I grew tired of the “Sandy” storyline in Peter James’ books. So much of the book was repetitive, with the same plans being explained again and again and little to no intrigue or suspense. Here’s to hoping the next one is better (if there is another).
May 7, 2025
This is my favourite book series and I’ve loved all of them but I was really disappointed with this. I thought it was nice for the story to be focused on Tom and Jack for a change but actually these books work better with Tom working on a case. This took me over a month to finish because I just didn’t want to pick it up and read more. Not sure whether this is going to be the last of the series after reading the end?
April 10, 2025
4.5*
To save his daughter Jack has to help a criminal who is trying to prove himself to a notorious Italian mafia family, who he is soon going to be a part of, that he is capable and will be a useful asset. Jack, who has previous experience of crime, has been living with his family under assumed names to keep them safe. Jack is great with IT and has a business which specialises around high end security. It’s because of his work putting in a high tech security system in an Italian gallery that has brought him to this predicament. The criminal wants to steal one of their paintings and has had Jack’s daughter taken to ensure Jack has to help.
Jack’s brother is Tom, a DCI in Greater Manchester Police, who is on sick leave having been shot in the line of duty. So when he is unable to contact Jack he goes off to find him. This leads him to Wales, back to Greater Manchester and finally to Italy. He finds out that it isn’t only Tom’s daughter that has been kidnapped but his whole family! Whilst finding all this out he has had some help from a colleague but then his boss finds out.
When Tom meets up with Jack and finds out what he is being forced to do he faces a serious dilemma, can a serving U.K. police officer help in criminal activity? Can a brother not help save family?
In this unusual story we are transported to the beautiful waterways of Venice whilst being treated to a fascinating, heart rending and tense thriller.
We also have an interwoven storyline of hurt, loss and the search for truth that has, perhaps, rendered the seeker almost as black hearted as those who seem responsible for causing this tragedy.
It’s easy to get into this book even if you’ve not read any of the previous books in the series. Rachel Abbott gives sufficient insight into Tom’s world both family and work to understand what has happened previously.
It’s a story that looks at how the police work in the U.K. and how colleagues will support each other when they need help. It also has the added insight into police officers operating in a country in which they have no jurisdiction.
Venice is a beautiful setting and the author creates a great atmosphere with it.
Ultimately though this is a story of two brothers who come together in order to save family from harm. Abbott creates a terrific scenario that builds into a tense and emotional story. Will Jack’s family be saved? Can Jack and Tom find Jack’s daughter and bring her safe home? Will Jack’s wife and other children be found and freed from their kidnappers? In two operations, one in the U.K. the other in Venice, that must be timed to perfection will Tom and Jack get their desired result or will they die trying?
As for the mysterious searcher will they find out the truth and if they do will their revenge bring them the satisfaction they want?
I thoroughly enjoyed this tense, often heartbreaking and cracking story and highly recommend it to all readers who love crime fiction and wonderful story telling.
Thanks
Many thanks to Anne at RandomThingsTours for the invite to joins this blog tour also to the author and publisher for providing an ebook of Whatever It Takes to read in order to share my honest opinion on.
To save his daughter Jack has to help a criminal who is trying to prove himself to a notorious Italian mafia family, who he is soon going to be a part of, that he is capable and will be a useful asset. Jack, who has previous experience of crime, has been living with his family under assumed names to keep them safe. Jack is great with IT and has a business which specialises around high end security. It’s because of his work putting in a high tech security system in an Italian gallery that has brought him to this predicament. The criminal wants to steal one of their paintings and has had Jack’s daughter taken to ensure Jack has to help.
Jack’s brother is Tom, a DCI in Greater Manchester Police, who is on sick leave having been shot in the line of duty. So when he is unable to contact Jack he goes off to find him. This leads him to Wales, back to Greater Manchester and finally to Italy. He finds out that it isn’t only Tom’s daughter that has been kidnapped but his whole family! Whilst finding all this out he has had some help from a colleague but then his boss finds out.
When Tom meets up with Jack and finds out what he is being forced to do he faces a serious dilemma, can a serving U.K. police officer help in criminal activity? Can a brother not help save family?
In this unusual story we are transported to the beautiful waterways of Venice whilst being treated to a fascinating, heart rending and tense thriller.
We also have an interwoven storyline of hurt, loss and the search for truth that has, perhaps, rendered the seeker almost as black hearted as those who seem responsible for causing this tragedy.
It’s easy to get into this book even if you’ve not read any of the previous books in the series. Rachel Abbott gives sufficient insight into Tom’s world both family and work to understand what has happened previously.
It’s a story that looks at how the police work in the U.K. and how colleagues will support each other when they need help. It also has the added insight into police officers operating in a country in which they have no jurisdiction.
Venice is a beautiful setting and the author creates a great atmosphere with it.
Ultimately though this is a story of two brothers who come together in order to save family from harm. Abbott creates a terrific scenario that builds into a tense and emotional story. Will Jack’s family be saved? Can Jack and Tom find Jack’s daughter and bring her safe home? Will Jack’s wife and other children be found and freed from their kidnappers? In two operations, one in the U.K. the other in Venice, that must be timed to perfection will Tom and Jack get their desired result or will they die trying?
As for the mysterious searcher will they find out the truth and if they do will their revenge bring them the satisfaction they want?
I thoroughly enjoyed this tense, often heartbreaking and cracking story and highly recommend it to all readers who love crime fiction and wonderful story telling.
Thanks
Many thanks to Anne at RandomThingsTours for the invite to joins this blog tour also to the author and publisher for providing an ebook of Whatever It Takes to read in order to share my honest opinion on.
March 11, 2025
Detectives in fiction often have complicated personal lives, but DCI Tom Douglas takes complicated to a whole new level. His techno-wizard brother Jack has links with organized crime, adopted a child who was kidnapped and abused, has faked his own death, reappeared with a new identity, disappeared again... you get the picture. He uses his considerable tech skills to stay in touch under the radar – but now Tom himself is on sick leave, recovering from a serious gunshot wound sustained in the line of duty, there hasn’t been a whisper from Jack.
The obvious conclusion is that he and his family are on the run again – and Jack is adept at leaving a trail of clues which only Tom can interpret. It leads to Venice, where most of the action takes place. Jack’s adopted daughter has been kidnapped again, this time with Mafia involvement, and to secure her release Jack has to facilitate a serious crime, for which he needs Tom’s help. And that goes against every principle Tom holds dear.
Abbott makes good use of first career in IT to build Jack Douglas’s expertise with the kind of intriguing detail her books have become famous for. From an apparently impregnable door which magically opens at Tom’s touch to a fictitious conversation generated by AI from a few spoken words via super-secure communications systems and undetectable spyware, Jack’s skills seem like something from Star Trek to us mere mortals.
She is clearly very familiar indeed with Venice, its twisty lanes and alleys as well as the glamorous side the tourists see. Seedy bedsitters spring to life as vividly as opulent palazzos and luxurious hotels. And while Tom tries to be invisible in Italy, his long-term sidekick Becky Robinson, now acting DCI in his absence, and his abrasive but supportive boss Philippa Stanley are picking up the pieces Jack dropped back in the UK before going in search of his missing daughter.
Scratch-them-and-they-bleed characters are a given in any Rachel Abbott novel, especially the women and the bad guys. Elena Ferraro, AKA Tia Rukavina, treads a very fine line between the two; sophisticated, brilliant and beautiful, she has an agenda all her own. Then there’s wannabe Mafioso and volatile loose cannon Renzo Moretti, and assorted Bulgarians with an eye to the main chance. And many more besides, all with quirks and details that make them memorable.
Like all Rachel Abbott’s novels, Whatever It Takes is well plotted, beautifully written and a page-turner which will keep you reading till the small hours. She has already taken these characters on a few roller-coaster rides through more than a dozen novels. This time the surprise ending will leave you wondering where she plans to them take next.
-------
Reviewer: Lynne Patrick
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
The obvious conclusion is that he and his family are on the run again – and Jack is adept at leaving a trail of clues which only Tom can interpret. It leads to Venice, where most of the action takes place. Jack’s adopted daughter has been kidnapped again, this time with Mafia involvement, and to secure her release Jack has to facilitate a serious crime, for which he needs Tom’s help. And that goes against every principle Tom holds dear.
Abbott makes good use of first career in IT to build Jack Douglas’s expertise with the kind of intriguing detail her books have become famous for. From an apparently impregnable door which magically opens at Tom’s touch to a fictitious conversation generated by AI from a few spoken words via super-secure communications systems and undetectable spyware, Jack’s skills seem like something from Star Trek to us mere mortals.
She is clearly very familiar indeed with Venice, its twisty lanes and alleys as well as the glamorous side the tourists see. Seedy bedsitters spring to life as vividly as opulent palazzos and luxurious hotels. And while Tom tries to be invisible in Italy, his long-term sidekick Becky Robinson, now acting DCI in his absence, and his abrasive but supportive boss Philippa Stanley are picking up the pieces Jack dropped back in the UK before going in search of his missing daughter.
Scratch-them-and-they-bleed characters are a given in any Rachel Abbott novel, especially the women and the bad guys. Elena Ferraro, AKA Tia Rukavina, treads a very fine line between the two; sophisticated, brilliant and beautiful, she has an agenda all her own. Then there’s wannabe Mafioso and volatile loose cannon Renzo Moretti, and assorted Bulgarians with an eye to the main chance. And many more besides, all with quirks and details that make them memorable.
Like all Rachel Abbott’s novels, Whatever It Takes is well plotted, beautifully written and a page-turner which will keep you reading till the small hours. She has already taken these characters on a few roller-coaster rides through more than a dozen novels. This time the surprise ending will leave you wondering where she plans to them take next.
-------
Reviewer: Lynne Patrick
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
March 20, 2025
Here is my review for Whatever It Takes by Rachel Abbott
This was a brilliant read, right from the start. I got into it straight away and just loved the story and the main character DCI Tom Douglas. He was a strong character in the story and he was recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Although on sick leave, he took extra leave so he could look for his brother and his family as he thought they had gone missing but wasn’t sure. If Jack was in trouble, then Tom would do all he could to help him. With Becky’s help and clues from Jack that Tom managed to crack, Tom tracked down a location for Jack’s laptop so went there and Jack got in touch with him. He learnt some of the worst news possible and just knew he had to help no matter what! This was a brilliantly written story that the author had superbly thought out and planned. It had been extremely well plotted as well. I loved the characters that were in this story, some were obviously from previous stories but they worked well with the story and if they had history, it was used well in this story. Some were new characters and they had very bad souls. It was a lively story that kept you on your toes and there was a lot of suspense in this story but also, a lot happened. I just couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. I really enjoy these books and I think the author is a brilliant storyteller. A great psychological thriller.
Blurb :
He played by the rules – until the only rule that mattered was survival.
Recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly cost him his life, DCI Tom Douglas isn’t focused on himself – his concern is for his brother Jack, who seems to have vanished without a trace. Jack’s past is as dangerous as it is complicated. Years ago, he faked his own death to escape an organised crime group, and ever since, he’s been living in the shadows, always one step ahead of those who want to hunt him down.
Now, Tom’s worst fears are coming true. Has Jack’s past finally caught up with him? And what does that mean for his family?Tom has to find them, but the answers he seeks are hidden in a brutal underworld - one more threatening than anything Tom has faced before.
With time running out and his own life on the line, Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go and how much he’s prepared to sacrifice, knowing it will mean crossing a line he swore he never would.
But there is another player in this game – one who will stop at nothing to find the answers she seeks. And if Tom makes the wrong move, he, and everyone he loves, will lose.
He’s spent his life chasing criminals. But to save his family, he might have to become one.
This was a brilliant read, right from the start. I got into it straight away and just loved the story and the main character DCI Tom Douglas. He was a strong character in the story and he was recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Although on sick leave, he took extra leave so he could look for his brother and his family as he thought they had gone missing but wasn’t sure. If Jack was in trouble, then Tom would do all he could to help him. With Becky’s help and clues from Jack that Tom managed to crack, Tom tracked down a location for Jack’s laptop so went there and Jack got in touch with him. He learnt some of the worst news possible and just knew he had to help no matter what! This was a brilliantly written story that the author had superbly thought out and planned. It had been extremely well plotted as well. I loved the characters that were in this story, some were obviously from previous stories but they worked well with the story and if they had history, it was used well in this story. Some were new characters and they had very bad souls. It was a lively story that kept you on your toes and there was a lot of suspense in this story but also, a lot happened. I just couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. I really enjoy these books and I think the author is a brilliant storyteller. A great psychological thriller.
Blurb :
He played by the rules – until the only rule that mattered was survival.
Recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly cost him his life, DCI Tom Douglas isn’t focused on himself – his concern is for his brother Jack, who seems to have vanished without a trace. Jack’s past is as dangerous as it is complicated. Years ago, he faked his own death to escape an organised crime group, and ever since, he’s been living in the shadows, always one step ahead of those who want to hunt him down.
Now, Tom’s worst fears are coming true. Has Jack’s past finally caught up with him? And what does that mean for his family?Tom has to find them, but the answers he seeks are hidden in a brutal underworld - one more threatening than anything Tom has faced before.
With time running out and his own life on the line, Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go and how much he’s prepared to sacrifice, knowing it will mean crossing a line he swore he never would.
But there is another player in this game – one who will stop at nothing to find the answers she seeks. And if Tom makes the wrong move, he, and everyone he loves, will lose.
He’s spent his life chasing criminals. But to save his family, he might have to become one.
December 29, 2025
I really enjoy the Tom Douglas series and have read them all, in order, and I'd like to pretend that this one doesn't exist... This was so different to any of the previous books, taking us away from the characters and setting that we know and love, into a high tech, spy story setting in Venice. The story heavily revolves around Tom's brother Jack, who has only been a smaller supporting role in previous books and this is the main issue. Jack isn't strong enough to hold a storyline - he's terribly unlikeable, patronising and cocky. His only character trait is that he's a genius at computers and he is constantly out of line and rude to Tom, which only makes Tom come across as weak and naïve and detracts from the great character we have followed for the previous 11 books.
The storyline is absurd and has Jack and Tom in the roles of James Bond, with the most woeful "criminals" and security guards that our main characters walk all over very easily at every turn. All other UK based characters are completely relegated to bit parts. There doesn't seem to be any kind of genuine danger as Jack can do anything and everything so there is never any real tension.
The writing is also lazy - at one point 3 different characters are described as biting their top lip between their teeth, all within the same chapter (+/-). The dialogue basically has the characters give us the storyline, so it sounds completely strange and not at all how people speak. They fill in the plot for us without any nuance so it comes across as basic and narrative, like the bad guy in a movie spelling out a summary of their plan to make it super obvious to the viewers. I have also never met anyone IRL who calls their sibling "little brother" in every sentence.
I do hope that there will be more to this series and that we can get back to the Tom we know and love. This almost ruined the series for me so I hope we don't end on such a messy, cheap let down.
The storyline is absurd and has Jack and Tom in the roles of James Bond, with the most woeful "criminals" and security guards that our main characters walk all over very easily at every turn. All other UK based characters are completely relegated to bit parts. There doesn't seem to be any kind of genuine danger as Jack can do anything and everything so there is never any real tension.
The writing is also lazy - at one point 3 different characters are described as biting their top lip between their teeth, all within the same chapter (+/-). The dialogue basically has the characters give us the storyline, so it sounds completely strange and not at all how people speak. They fill in the plot for us without any nuance so it comes across as basic and narrative, like the bad guy in a movie spelling out a summary of their plan to make it super obvious to the viewers. I have also never met anyone IRL who calls their sibling "little brother" in every sentence.
I do hope that there will be more to this series and that we can get back to the Tom we know and love. This almost ruined the series for me so I hope we don't end on such a messy, cheap let down.
June 5, 2025
The DCI Tom Douglas series has been such a favourite of mine and this latest didn’t disappoint. Whilst recuperating and on extended leave following events in the previous book, Tom is worried about his brother Jack. Regular readers of the series will know that Jack had to fake his death and assume a new identity to get away from gangsters and subsequent limited contact between the brothers has been conducted with extreme secrecy. Worried that he hasn’t heard from his brother Tom delves deeper and discovers a trail of clues that have special meaning only to him.
This story mainly takes place in Venice and again Jack is in trouble, this time his problem has a Mafia connection. I won’t give any more details but as much as Tom wants to help Jack, he is conflicted by his background in law enforcement versus the illegality of some things he is a party to.
Tom is not without support however and it was great seeing Becky Robinson, now acting DCI in Tom’s absence together with Rob Cumba and Superintendent Philippa Stanley playing their part in the story. I’ve always loved the interaction and loyalty between this team and it was here in spades.
This is another cracker of a read. The short chapters keep the story moving at pace and this together with the atmospheric location of Venice make for a well plotted and suspenseful story that push boundaries in respect of both morals and the use of technology.
I very much enjoyed this as I knew I would and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author has in store next for these familiar and much loved characters.
This story mainly takes place in Venice and again Jack is in trouble, this time his problem has a Mafia connection. I won’t give any more details but as much as Tom wants to help Jack, he is conflicted by his background in law enforcement versus the illegality of some things he is a party to.
Tom is not without support however and it was great seeing Becky Robinson, now acting DCI in Tom’s absence together with Rob Cumba and Superintendent Philippa Stanley playing their part in the story. I’ve always loved the interaction and loyalty between this team and it was here in spades.
This is another cracker of a read. The short chapters keep the story moving at pace and this together with the atmospheric location of Venice make for a well plotted and suspenseful story that push boundaries in respect of both morals and the use of technology.
I very much enjoyed this as I knew I would and I’m looking forward to seeing what the author has in store next for these familiar and much loved characters.
March 14, 2025
I just love Rachel’s books. There is always an excellent story, plenty of suspense, great characters but they are never too gory. I have never read one I didn’t enjoy and needless to say this is no exception.
DCI Tom Douglas is recovering from a recent gunshot as the story opens but instead of quiet recuperation, he is worrying about the fact that he’s not heard from his brother Jack. Jack faked his own death a few years ago to escape an organised crime group and he and his family have been living in the shadows since, with a new identity. When he doesn’t contact Tom after his injury, he knows something isn’t right. This is not like his brother at all. As Tom starts to investigate, he finds clues left for him by Jack and his search soon takes him to Venice where he will not only face the Italian mafia but also a mysterious woman who is on a mission of her own. How is it all connected and given that “morality isn’t always black or white”, when Tom is faced with losing those he holds dear, will he be able to stop himself from crossing lines he vowed he never would?!
This is such a brilliant, fast paced read. The setting in Venice made it even more exciting and I couldn’t put it down, wanting to know how it would all unfold.
If you have read previous books from the series, you will of course come across familiar faces but if you haven’t, this is just as enjoyable and you won’t feel “lost” at all.
DCI Tom Douglas is recovering from a recent gunshot as the story opens but instead of quiet recuperation, he is worrying about the fact that he’s not heard from his brother Jack. Jack faked his own death a few years ago to escape an organised crime group and he and his family have been living in the shadows since, with a new identity. When he doesn’t contact Tom after his injury, he knows something isn’t right. This is not like his brother at all. As Tom starts to investigate, he finds clues left for him by Jack and his search soon takes him to Venice where he will not only face the Italian mafia but also a mysterious woman who is on a mission of her own. How is it all connected and given that “morality isn’t always black or white”, when Tom is faced with losing those he holds dear, will he be able to stop himself from crossing lines he vowed he never would?!
This is such a brilliant, fast paced read. The setting in Venice made it even more exciting and I couldn’t put it down, wanting to know how it would all unfold.
If you have read previous books from the series, you will of course come across familiar faces but if you haven’t, this is just as enjoyable and you won’t feel “lost” at all.
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